Former INS Canine "units" are generally located on the southwest border. A unit is a handler, a canine, a vehicle, and an at-home kennel. Because the program was intended to remain small in size-never to become larger than 100 teams-there are no immigration canine teams working at airports. The teams operate only at land border ports of entry and at seaports.

Seizure statistics for FY 2002 Substance Total Seizures Amount Seized Value Marijuana 745 75920.98(pounds) $43,007,245.00 Cocaine 90 4056.244 (pounds) $67,493,813.00 Heroin 12 2076.218(ounces) $67,495,889.22 Other drugs 28 906.98(pounds) $1,085,212.00 Firearms 2   $1,000.00 Vehicles 92   $768,667.00 Humans 121

Training
An inspector must be the "best of the best" to be nominated as a canine handler by his or her district director. After a rigorous selection process, the inspectors and their new canine partners go through a 10-week training program. Next, they're assigned to a permanent post where the dogs will work for approximately six hours each day for the next seven to ten years. After retirement, most canines will continue to live with their partners.

The preferred breeds are European-bred German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Labrador Retrievers between the ages of one and two. The dogs for both the Border Patrol and Immigration programs are trained at the National Canine Facility in El Paso, Tex. This ensures consistency in operations, both at the ports of entry and along the border between the ports of entry. In the past, training classes included an assembly of Border Patrol agents and Immigration inspectors. Because Congress mandated that the immigration program be expanded to include seaport operations last year, it became important to quickly train additional immigration teams. The first all-immigration class of 13 units graduated in December.

A CBP immigration inspector and his canine partner work a line of cars waiting to cross into the United States at the San Ysidro port of entry.

The new team
The four canine programs we've featured in Customs and Border Protection Today-former APHIS, Border Patrol, Immigration, and U.S. Customs-each use different breeds of dogs and employ their own training and working methods, but all the programs have the same mandate: to secure the Homeland.

Every day these dogs are proving that they are not only man's best friend, but also guardians of our nation's frontlines. Whether looking for concealed people, currency, an explosive, a shipment of illegal drugs, or a piece of fruit that could harbor a deadly pest, the 1,061 canine teams of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are hard at work keeping this country and its citizens safe.